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NEW MILFORD. 






DELIVERED IX THE 



CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 

N£\V MILFORD, CONN.. 

Sunday, July 9, 1876 

—BY- 
JAMES B. BONAR. Pastok. 



PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY. 

1876. 

M. L. DELAVAX, Printer. 

Nbw Milford, Ct. 



HISTORY 

Town and Churcli of New Milford, Conn. 

MEMORIAL SEHMON. 

"One generation shall nrai^e thv works to another, and shall declare 
Ihy mighty acts,"— Ps. 145: 4. 

The past is full of interest and instruction, so that all 
concede the value of history. Its importance is ininifest 
from the fact that about two-thirds of Uod's Holy Wora 
is historical. 

The history of any and every part of the earth is inter- 
esting; but our own Co'.intry and State, tlie town in vvliich 
we reside, the Cliurch to which we bilon^?, and the fami- 
ly whose name we bear, are to us of the greatest interest. 
To-day, therefore, we turn our attention to the historj- of 
this Church, Society and town. 

The sources of information on these subjects, though 
bulky, are meagre and imperfect. We have 

1. Minutes of the Proprietor's Meetings from 1706 to 
1801. 

2. Records of Town Meetings from 1713. 

3. Minutes of the meetings of the First Ecclesiastical 
Society, from December, 1753. 

4. Ecclesiastical Society's Treasurer's booics from 1802. 

5. Church R.'cords from December 27th, 1727. These 
are not complete; the book kept by Mr. Rood is missing. 

6. MSS. Notes of Rev. W. H. Moore. 

7. Records of Baptist and MetUoaist Churches. 

8. Memoir of ]Vrrs. 3Iary A. Boardman, b}-- Rev. Dr. 
Schroeder. 

9. And the memory of persons still ilvins'. 

In 1703, Col. Robert Treat and others representing 111 
persons, all of Milford, obtained a patent to a certain tract 
of laud in New Haven County, formerly called Weanti- 
nogue. This tract contained 84 square miles, embracing 
what is now Known as the towns of New Milford, and 
Bridgewater, with parts of Brookfield and New Preston. 
It cost the Proprietors about 8 mills an acre. The fir:t 
settler, though not a Proprietor, was John Noble, who 
came here from Massachussetts, in 1707. The Indians 
were then and long afterwards numerous, but see.*-!! al- 
ways to have been on friendly terms with the settlers. 
The Proprietors held their meetings at Milford until 1715. 
The first Town Meeting seems to have been held in 1713, 



2 A MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 

The town was first represented in the Legislature in 1725. 
The first record of freemen was made in 1744, The town 
belonjxed to New Haven Colony until the incorporation of 
Litchfield County, in 1751. The first bridge over the 
Housatonic, between the sea and its source, was built here 
in 1737. The first school in the town was opened in 1721, 
and was taught 4 months in the year, the town paying 
half the expense. 

la 1707 two persons came into New Milford. 

In 1712 there were here 12 families or between 60 and 
70 persons. A census, taken in 1756, reports 1137 in the 
town ; another taken in 1774, reported 2776, while in 
1800, after pans of the town had been ceded to Brookfleld 
and Washington, the population was 3198. The census of 
of 1870, gives the population of the present New Milford, 
as 3588, while Bridgev/ater, formerly a part of this town, 
has 877 inhabitants. 

New Milford has always been loyal to the cause of free 
dom. In 1779 the town voted 4 bushel?* of wheat a montii 
to every man who volunteered for six months, and three 
bushels a month to tha militia mjn who inarcU:;d when 
ordered; but, if thay failed to report within eight days 
after marching orders, they forfeited this premium. The 
town also supported the families of men while absent in 
the Continental army. In 1778 the Articles of Confedera- 
cy proposed by Congress, styled " The United States of 
North America," were adopted in town meeting, except 
part Ol the 5th article, which respects the mode of choos- 
ing Delegates to Congress It .vas "Voted that the Free- 
men will always hold the prerogative and sole power of 
choosing our Delegates in Congress by vote." Subsequent- 
ly, "said Articles of Confederacy were adopted in full by 
the meeting without a dissenting voice." In 1783 it was 
voted, and a Committee was appointed to enforce the res- 
olution, that all refugees, or "skedaddlers," as they would 
now be termed, as well as all who had voluntarily gone 
over to the enemy during the war, should be prohibited 
from returning and settling in the town. The Adjutant- 
General of Connecticut, reports the names of 222 men 
from the town of New Milford as having served in the 
armies of the United States during the Civil War of 1861- 
-65. This does not include the 37 who deserted nor the 
one who was dishonorably discharged. 



A MEMORIAL DISCO ruSE. d 

The town, as such, lias always upheld the causs of mo- 
rality and good order. In 1787 certain persons were 
fined " for brin.i>;ing into the town and entertaining un- 
wholesome inhabit; nts." So early as 1729 it was voted in 
town meeting that "James Hiue have oversight of the fe- 
male sex during exercises" in Church. And' so late as 
1821 a certain person was fined $1.67 for "breach of the 
Sabbath," but this fine was remitted. 

Tile way in wliich they cared for the poor and guarded 
the interests of the town, appears from the vo:e of 1771 — 
" That a bhick bormet, a red woman's cloak, and a worst- 
ed gown be kept for the daughter of Hannah Baeman ; if 
she die under age, the town to have them." 

Tlie first sermon was preached here by Col. John Reid, 
who had studied for the ministry in his youth. Mr. Dan- 
iel Boardman, a preacher of the Gospel, came liere in 1712. 
The next year it was vot€d that the inhabitants should 
pay all the expense that had been incurred in obtaining a 
minister, also to lay out a pas'.or's lot, to dig and stone up 
a well for Mr. Daniel Boardman, if he became a settled 
minister in New Milford. Meanwhile, the town allowed 
OS. 6d. a week for the minister's board. In 171o the town 
agreed to petition the General Court to " attain liberty for 
the settlement of tlie worship and ordinances of God 
among us." This was the subject that then came up at 
every meeting of the inhabitants. It was not until 1710 
that they made arrangements for laying out a burying 
ground of two acres ; but for four years before tiiat tliey 
had been contriving and planning for the religious in- 
struction of themselvx^s and families. The poverty of the 
people aj)pears in the resolution adopted as to Mr. Board 
man's salary, one third of which was to be paid in grain, 
two-thirds in labor, linen, or pork ; the established price 
of wheat was then 4s. a bushel, .rye, 2s. 8d. corn 2s. and 
oats Is. ; part of the agreement being that Mr. Boardman 
sliould sell the grain which he had to spare at the same 
prices to the inhabitants. In accordance-, with a vote of 
the town, Mr, Boardman was ordained November 21st, 
1710. 

So far as the records show, there was then entre unanim- 
ity of religious belief and opinion among the people. The 
Ecclesiastical Sociely and the Town were practically one 
and the same. Everything regarding the building and fi 



4 A MEMOKTAL DISCOURSE. 

nances of the Society was detc rniined in Town Meeting 
The first division occurred in 1731-2, when 20 persons' 
withdrew to form a Quaker Societ^^ Tliey built a house 
in 1743 and have continued their woisliip from that time 
until the present, though at this date there is but one fam- 
ily of them residing in the town. 

In 1743 the inhabitants of "Newbury" were set off for 
a separate religious Society, and in the division of the 
Parsonage lands in 1755, £98 3s. G|d., was given to this So- 
ciety, £13 14s. GJd. to Newbury, and £5 12s. 7^1. to New 
Preston Newbury was the ancient name of Brookfield, 
and was formed into a town in 1788, from parts of New 
]Milford, Danbury, and Newtown. The Church at Brook- 
field was therefore organized, not in 1757, as heretofore 
reported, but in 1743-4. The inhabitants of the "Neck," 
as Bridgewater, was originally called, early made repre- 
sentations to this Society of the inconvenience of attend- 
ing worship here during AVinter months. Part of their 
tax was remitted on condition that they provided preach- 
ing for themselves during the Winter ; and for a number 
of years Mr. Taylor and Mr, G"iswold spent one Sabbath 
in each of the three Winter months at the Neck. Tlie 
Church at Bridgewater was organized in 1809. Bridge- 
vater was set off as a town in 1856. 

There m^st have been Episcopalians in town earlier, but 
the first allusion to them occurs in the record of a town 
Meeting in 1744, just previous to the death of Mr. Board- 
man : " Voted, That those of us who arc of the Church of 
England shall be free from paying any cluirge for a min- 
ister for one year, if circumstances rem; in as they now 
are ; but, if in the providence of God our Reverend Pas- 
tor should be taken away, then the said Church men to 
be under the same regulation as the rest." The Pev. James 
Beach, of Newtown, visited New Milford occasionally be- 
tween 1740 and 1745, and a lay reader read service for some 
time. The fiist Episcopal clergyman who resided here 
was Rev. Solomon Palmer, wdio came in 1754. This So- 
ciety continued feeble for many years ; but under the 20 
years pastorate of the Rev, Charles G. Acly, just closed, 
it has grown strong and health3^ It has now 132 families 
and 265 communicants. 

The Separatists, or Strict Congregationalists as they were 
called, built a meeting house, in what is now the old cem- 



A ]MEMOrxTAT; DTSCOUnSE, 

eteiy, in ITGl. Tliey disbanded in 1812, uniting some 
Willi tills Societ}' and some with the Episcopalians. 

Between 1780 and 1785 the followers of Jemima Wil- 
kenson, who is described as a remarkably comely woman, 
with dark hair and sparkling black eyes, built a house in 
what is now the old cemetery, on the hiU on the road to- 
wards New Preston. They soon sold this building to the 
Episcopalians and moved to Genesee, New York, where 
Jemima resided. 

The Baptists formed a small Church and erected a house 
of worship in the lower end of the town called the Neck 
(Bridgewater) in 1788-90, "but never had a pastor.and soon 
moved elsewhere " 

The Baptist Church at Northvilki wa^ organized Febru- 
ary 9th, 1814, with 7 males and 16 female members, most 
of whom had previously been connected with a Baptist 
Church in Roxbury. Its present membership is4G. Tlie 
Baptist Church at Gaylordsville was formed about 1830 
and hiis always been small. Its present membership is 33. 
Somewhere about 1830 a Union Church was built at Mer- 
ryall, winch was used chiefly, but not wholly, by the Bap- 
tists. No Society was ever formed, and no service has 
been held in the house for 20 years. 

The Rev. Elijah Hebard, from Stratford circuit, seems 
to have been the first Methodist Episcopal miu ster who 
visited New Milford. In 1815 he preached at John War- 
ner's in Pleasant Valley. Others followed, and in 1825 a 
Society rt-as formed in Gaylordsville; that Society still ex- 
ists and has now GG members. In 182G the Methodists 
erected a Church at Northville ; and in 1828-9 they erect- 
ed another on the Plains at a cost of $3,000. It is to be 
regretted that these organizations at Northville and on tlie 
Plains are both extinct and have been so for twenty-five 
years. The Methodist Church in tlie Village was erected 
in 18-10 and dedicated by Bishop Janes in May, 1850— the 
Rev. Wm. M'Allister, then being the Preacher in charge, 
lis present membership is 130. 

The Roman Catholics opened a place for worsliip in 
18G0-G1, but had no resident priest until 1872. They 
have now a large congregation, composed almost exclu- 
sively of persons of foreign birth. 

These are all the Religious Societies that have existed 
in the town. Out of a population of 3,580 there is to day 



6 A MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 

a Church membership, exclusive of the Roman Catliolics 
of 807. 

In 1871-2, this Churcli tlioroughly canvassed tlie town, 
exclusive ot New Preston Society, distributing Bibles and 
Tracts, and carefully reporting the Church attendance and 
preferences of the people by families. Of the 707 families 
reported, there were Congregational, 218; Episcopal, 156; 
Methodists, 88; Roman Catholics, 46; 2d Advent, (coloredJ 
18 ; Baptisls, 15 ; Jews, 3 ; Lutherans, 2 ; Friends, 2 . 
Reformed Dutch, 1 ; and not attending any Church, 158. 

With this general review of the Ecclesiastical history of 
the town, we turn now to consider more minutely the 
history of this, the oldest and always largest Church and 
Soeieti'^ — the oldest but one and the largest in tiie Count3\ 

There was no Ecclesiastical Society until after 1750. 
Until then, the town was the Society. It was the town 
that provided for the supply of the pulpit, for the instal- 
lation of ministers,the erection and care of buildings, and 
all expenses connected with public worsnip. Tiie Church 
beld meetings for the election of Deacons, the discipline 
of members, and the spiritual interests of the people. But 
the town managed everything that now belongs to the So. 
ciety. It was the town that invited Mr. Daniel Boardman 
to labor here, and that settled him as a pastor, making all 
the arrangements for his installation. The town did the 
same in the case of Mr. Taylor. So far as the records 
show, the Church took no separate action in calling its 
pastors until the invitation to Mr. Griswold,in 1790, when 
it formally voted, as has been the custom ever since, to 
concur in the Society's.action. From 1713 to 1750 a large 
part of the business in Town Meeting was in regard to 
Ecclesiastical affairs. 

The first Meeting House, "40 feet long, 30 feet wide, 
and 24 feet between "gists," with suitable proportions,'' 
was built in 1718-19, but not opened for worship until 
1720, and then it was in a very unfinished condition. In 
1720 it was voted to wall up the gists before Winter and 
fill in between the lathe and studs with limber and mor. 
tar. The floor was not laid until 1723. This building 
stood on the highway on Town Hill, a few rods North of 
the present residence of JNIrs. J. P. Treadwell The second 
liouse of wors hip, " 64 ftet long, 44 feet wide, and 27 fee 
posts," nearly twice the size of the first, was erected in 



A MEMOKIAl, DlS(OUH8E. I 

1754, the town applying to the General Assembly for pow- 
er to sell the old Meeting House, and to tax non-resident 
land holders for building the new one. This building 
stood on the Village Green, nearly opposite the present res- 
idence of iMr. Solomon E. Boslwick. The present editiee 
was erected in 1833, and though much larger than the for- 
mer, for several years persons wishing slips have been 
unable to obtain them. It would be a good Centennial 
work to enlarge the building. 

The Sabbath Day House was an institiition that is un- 
known to the present generation. In 1745 the town voted 
"that any farmers, inhabitants, have leave to build a 
small house to repair to on Sabbath day on the common 
land, provided the public is not damnified thereby." This 
building was located "North of the Meeting House on the 
side of the hill." After the erection of the Church on the 
Green, tiie S:ri)bath Day House was built on the spot where 
now siands the house so long occupied by tlie Rev. Mr. 
Acly. It is described to me by a lady still with us (^Frs. Eli 
Mygatt) who went through it more than 70 years affo. as 
a long, low building, with four large rooms, regarding 
which frightful stories were told of the ghosts that inhab- 
ited it. In this building, farmers, whose homes were dis- 
tant, stored loads tif wood, and barrels of cider, and here 
they warmed their bean soup, replenished their foot-stoves 
and regaled themselves in the iiour between services. Un- 
til 1870 the services were held morning and afternoon ; 
since 1870, the second service has been held in the evening. 

The Chapel was built by Individuals, with permission 
of the Society in 1838-9. The Meeting Houses were not 
heated until 1823-5, when two box stoves were put into 
the second Meeting House. In November, 1833, the So- 
ciety voted to obtain "2 of Dr. Nott's stoves and one ton 
of anthracite coal for the Winter." Furnaces were put in 
in 1860, when the Church was improved at a cost of $5,225, 
and land for sheds was bought. The organ was obtained 
in 1860, at a cost of $1,200. 

The Parsonage- was bought In August, 1870, at a cost of 
$6,000, paid for by subscription, and presented, with cer- 
tain conditions attached, to the Society. Oriirinally, the 
people were called to worship, as to all public meetinsrs, 
by the beat of a drum, for which an appropriation was 
made in 1716. For many years after the first Church 



8 A MEMORIAL DIftCOUKSE. 

building was occupied, the town annually appointed a 
person to beat the drum and voted liim pay for his servi- 
ces. I have been unable to discover wiien the firsc bell 
was obtained. A Church clocii which hung in the steeple 
of the second Meeting House must have been bou>;ht about 
a centur^^ ago. In 1780 the liabilities of the Society are 
thus stated: "Arrears yet due on account of clock £7 3s. 
5d. anddu.' Widow Prudence Collins, for sweeping the 
Meeting House £1 10s. Od. 

Until 1745 this was the only ^Society and every person 
in town was taxed for its support. From 1750 to 1790 
persons who aided in supporting other Societies were by 
vote, relieved from the tax for t; e support of this Society. 
There Is no instance on record m which a request for re- 
lief on this plea was refused. Fiom 1800, though this So- 
ciety had the legal right up to 1819, to tax all, only the 
members of the Society were, in fact, taxed for its benefit. 
The proposal to meet necessary expenses by the sale of 
slips was tirst mnde in 1851 and rejected 1)3^ a large major- 
ity. This plan was adopted In 1854 and has continued un- 
til the present. Previous to that, committees had from 
time to time " seated and dignified the Meeting House.'» 
Tiie resolutions of 1756, were, that "all persons of the 
age of 56 years and upwards should be seated in the first 
rank of seats, and all otlier persons according to the rates 
and taxes they have paid to aids building said Meeting 
House." But f(»r special reasons of honor or infirmity., 
persons were often, by vole, placed in the highest rank. 
In subsequent .seatings, it was usually voted that " no per. 
SOD should be placed lower than iie had previously been." 

This Society d<;es not seeni ever to have received pe- 
cuniary aid from sister Churches, or from individuals out. 
side of Its own membersliip. In 1719 :in agent was s^ni 
to Milford " to see what tiiey would do for ilic support of 
the Gospel here." Thai application was probably to the 
Proprietors, and there is nore(;ord of its result. The Pro- 
prietors set apart what were called " Donation" or "• Par- 
sonage Lands f«>r the support of the Gospel according to 
the Presbyterian C>)ngregational order, in the town." 
From these lands a 24 s. lot was given to 31 r. Boardman 
as pari of his settlement, and probably a similar lot to Mr. 
Taylor at his ordination. The remainder of this land was 
>old at dilffrenl times l-.-l'or.^ 1790, and ilie proceeds giveu 



\ VIKMOKIAL DIiSCO[JKSI-:. 



lo the various Societies witliin the town in proportion to 
the " List" of their members. And in 1790 the Propriet ns 
appointed a Committee to examine tlie roads belonging to 
them, to narrow tliem and sell the land thus obtained. 
This Cammittee completed its work in 1810. Piirt of the 
proceeds of the land thus sold from the hiiihways, \Aa.sdo 
nated to this Society, and carefully invested in iiartford 
Bank Stock, which it holds to this day. 

In 1792 Col. Josiah Starr, who had long been Treasurer, 
purchased some Hartford Bank Stock, for the Society, and 
to complete the payment advanced out of his own fuuds 
$192 24. Mr. Comstock, a later Treasurer, has recorded 
that this was never repaid. Col. Starr, doubtless, intend- 
ed this as a gift to the Society. 

September 13th, 1880, a vote of thaaks was passed to 
John P. Treadwell, Esq., then of Xew York, for the gift 
uf $500 toward the purclitise of an organ. 

September 19th, 1834, a vote of th:iuli"j to Miss Gi'atid 
M. Mervvin,for the donation of $100. 

March 3d, 1870, a vote of thanks to Roj^al I. Canfield, for 
$500, given for a permanent fund, the avails to be used for 
the support of the (juspel. Mr. Canlield had previously 
(1861) given additional land for sheds, which cost him $100. 

Mr. Homer Beard, who died February, 1871, bequeailied 
to the Society land w.-iich was sold for $1,030. 

And Mrs. Piiebe B'-.-ard, his widow, wiiodied September, 
1874, left to the Society property which netted $832. 

This Society has always siiown a characteristic New En- 
gland thrift and prudence in regard to its linauces. So 
early as 1755, it appointed a committee to " take care of 
the money, coming from the sale. of the Parsonage lands, 
to loan out said money on good and sufficient security." 
From that time lo this, the Society has always had money 
loaned, invested in Government securities or in Bank 
stock. And in 1787, it was voted that only the interest 
over si.c per cent., should be used for current expenses. 
But til is rule has not been observed or the Society would 
now be rich. 

From 1752 until 1796, all the educational and religious 
affairs of tlie town were under the control of this Society. 
It located tlie Schools, lixed the tax, collected it, and su- 
perintended tlie Schools through committees annually ap- 
pointed. It was, in fact, the Scliool Rocieiy for the Town, 



10 A MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 



and as such received Benoni ^tebbins' legacy. It fixed 
and collected the tax for the salary of the ministers, " for 
the sweeping out of the Meeting House." It also, in some 
measure, managed the financial affairs of the Episcupal 
Society ; for in 1771, after appointing Ichabod Bostwick 
to gather the minister's rate, it appointed "Solomon Hod- 
kiss to gather a rate for Mr. Clark." And in 1772 this So- 
ciety issued a notice " to warn all the Cl)urch people to 
meet together on Monday, the 13th day of instant, April, 
at St. John's Church at 8 of the clock in the morning, 
then and there to consult such measures as they shall 
think proper to procure a Glebe house for the Rev. Mr. 
Clark, and to do such other business as sh.dl be thought 
proper." The minutes of the meeting thus warned are re- 
corded as "a meeting of the inhabitants of the 1st Eccle- 
siastical Society — holden by the Church of England." 
This was doubtless done, in a fraternal spirit, to give legal 
efficacy to the action of the Episcopal Society in dispos- 
ing of one Glebe and purchasing another. This shows 
the kindly feeling that then, as now and always, has gov- 
erned the members of this Society. The Church Revievv 
(vol. ii, p. 317, — See Hollister's Hist, of Conn. vol. ii, p. 
545 — Note) states that " certain Churchmen in Nevv Mil- 
ford were fined for refusing to attend the meetings of the 
established Church. These fines were, by recommenda- 
tion of Mr. Beach, paid, and copie% of the proceedings 
taken to be forwarded to the King and council. The fact 
becoming known, the authorities refunded the money and 
granted permission to build a church, which before had 
been refused." I do not know the authority of the Church 
Review for this statement ; but I do know that there is no 
warrant for it in Town or Society's books. There is no 
record of any refusal to permit Churchmen to build, nor 
of the remittance of a fine upon any person for being ab- 
sent from the worship of this Church ; yet the books con- 
tain records of scores of votes remitting fines for breacli 
of the Sabbath and other minor offences. From 1753 to 
1819 this Society had all the legal rights in its own hand. 
But, in all the records there is no instance of anylhinor 
like intolerance, or a disposition to throw obstacles in 
the way of others ; while tljen; are numerous instances of 
its generositv, nnd readiness to aid those who entertained 
a faith different from its own. 



A ml:mouiai. discolum:. H 



This Society has uniformly treated it« ininistefs honora- 
bly and kindly. It has idway^ acted with a i:?ood degree 
of unanimity. In every instance, except the first, the Socie- 
ty has found it difficult to unite in the (aliinii- of a pastor. 
At such times feelin<; has often run hi-ih, and when a cmI! 
was voted, there has often been a few votes in the nega 
tiv<\ But the call once i,nven and the pastor settled, par- 
ties have disappeared fina all united in treatini^ tlie man 
WMth the respect due to his oflice. Of the 8 pastors who 
have proccded the present, 3— Boardman, Taylor, an<l 
Elliot'— died in office. Mr. Griswold left voluntarily, wit li. 
out any action on tne part of the Church or Society. .Mr, 
Porter resigned because of his " physical inability to per- 
form the duties belonging to so large and scattered a p:ir. 
ish." Mr. Murdoch resigned to accept the invitation of 
the Third Church in New Haven. In regard to Mr. Kood, 
the Church and Society both voted unanimously that a 
change was needful for their well being ; but even then, 
it voted him a gift of $400 and borrowed the money to give 
it to him. In the only other instance in which a change 
was desired, it was solely because of the physical infirmi- 
ty of the pastor, who was as universally admired for-his 
talents, as he was revered for his character. On his resig- 
nation, the Society voted him a donation of $500. The 
Society has always cared for the comfort of its pastors 
and been faithful to its promises to them. In the times of 
Messrs.Boardman and Taylor it Aas very poor and did not 
always ipay promptly ; but then it allowed interest on all 
arrea'raires. It gave Mr. Boardman a settlement in land 
and inc^reased his salary from £50 and 40 cords of wood, 
"good and suitable for the fire," to £125. It gave Mr. 
Taylor a settlement of £1,000, payable in installments 
within three years, and increased his salary from time to 
time at his request. But in 1TT9— " the time that tried 
men's souls"— Mr. Taylor, "trusting to the generosity of 
the members of the Society," relinquished his salary of 
£150, lawful money, from May l-t, 1778,to:\Iay 1st, 1779. 
And in 1782, Mr. fayior, " taidng into consideration the 
great burden and heavy taxes now lying on the people by 
reason of the present war, and he, being free and willing 
to bear a proportionate part of the cost and burden with 
others of the Society," did "abate and discharge to said 
Society, the sum of £30, lawful money" from what was 



12 A MEMOKIAL DIBC0UK8E. 

then due to him. And the Society, in its vote of tliunks, 
" allowed that £30 was his full equal part, according to 
his interest or estate." On the ordination of Mr. (rris 
wold, the Society voted Mr. Taylor " a, gratuity of £80, in 
addition to all arrears then due to him." Mr. Griswold's 
settlement was £200, with a salary of £100, "payable in 
gold or sih^er, or produce at such prices as he would ac- 
cept, with interest on all arrears. £15 was afterwards 
added to his salary " because he did not receive so much 
wood as he expected." And from 1794 to 1801 the Socie- 
ty annually voted him, usually £30 " in view of the hiiih 
price of provisions the current year." Mr. Elliot's salary 
was $550 : but from 1819 to his death $50 additional was 
annually voted to him except in 1826. Mr. Rood's salary 
was $600, while Messrs. Porter and Greenwood had $703; 
Mr. Murdoch accepted the call of the Church and Society 
at a salary of $800, wh:ch, on bis application, was grad- 
ually increased to $2,000. And in 1868 members of the 
Society presented him $1,750. 

This statement of facts shows that this Societ}'^ has aimed 
to do well by its pastors, and that these pastors were men 
who were worthy of good treatment. 

These pastors were : — 

1. Daniel Boardman — Graduated at Yale College, 1709. 
was ordained here November 21st, 1716, and died August, 
25th, 1744. 

2. Nathaniel Taylor was born in Danbury, Ausiust27th, 
1722 ; graduated at Yale College, in 1745 ; was ordained 
;jastor here June 29th, 1748, and died here December 9th, 
1800. He fitted many boys for College and married the 
daughter of his predecessor. 

3. Stanley Griswold was born in Torringford, Novem. 
berl4th, 1763; graduated at Yale College, in 1786; was or- 
dained pastor here June 20th, 1790 ; became a Unitarian, 
threw open the sacraments to all, and was censured by 
Consociation. He left town in 1802, ana edited a political 
paper in N^ew Hampshire. In 1805 he was appointed Sec 
retary of Michigan Territory. In 1809 he was sent to the 
U. S. Senate, was afterwards Chief Judge of the N. W. 
Territory,and died at Shawneetown,Ill., August 25th, 1815, 
aged 52. 

This Church and Society united in forming the Litch. 
field South Consociation, on July 7lh, 1752. But feelinir 



A MEMOKFAI. DISCOL IJSK. 18 

agi^rieved by llie action of the Association and Consocia- 
tion in relation to Mr. (criswohl, the Society, September 
1805, by a unanimous vote withdrew from said Consocia- 
tion, for internunUllinir in the private aii'iiirs of tiiis Socie- 
ty and excommunicatino; tlie pastor unlieard in ids own de- 
fence. It stood unconsociated until the installation (^f 31 1 • 
Elliot, when droppin;^ tlie iialf-way cov^Mianl, which was 
adopted here in 17GD, it was ivceiv^ed into the FauliclJ 
Consociation, February 2k;i, 1808. It relumed to Litch- 
field South Consociation, April 27th, 183G. 

4. Andrew Elliot, sou of Kev. Andrew Elliot, of Fair- 
field ; oraduat(;d at Yale College, in ITltb ; was ordained 
pastor here February 24:th, 1808, and labored most sue 
cessfully until his deatli, May 9th, 1829. No pastor of this 
Cijurch has exerted a more Dowerful and healthy influence 
upon the t.>wn than Mr. Elliot, The most extensive and 
irenuine revival ihat ever blessed this community, was un 
der his ministry. 

5. Heman Rood was born in Vermont ; graduated at 
Middlebury College in 1819, and Seminary in 1825 ; vvas 
orchiined pastor at Gilmantou, N. H., June 12th, 18213-30 ; 
was p.islor in New Milford from 1830 to 1835. Mr. Rood's 
pastorate was the briefest this Church has ever had. He 
was afterwards piofessor in the Theological Seminary, at 
Gilmauton, N. H., 7 years. 

6. Noah Porter, son of Rev. Noah Porter, D. D., of 
Farmington, was born December 14th, 1811; graduated at 
Yale College, in 1831 ; at Yale Seminary, in 1836; was or- 
dained pastor here April 27th, 1838, and resigned December 
3lst, 1842 ; after serving the South Church, Springfield, 
Mass., 4 years, he then became a professor in Yale Univer- 
sity of which institution he was elected President, and in- 
augurated October 11th, 1871. 

7. John Greenwood was born in Berwick, Yorkshire* 
England, June 5th, 1794, and was ordained pastor at Roys, 
ton, Cambiidgshire, June 20th, 1822— July 17th, 1836 : in. 
stalled pastoral Bethel, April 18th, 1838— February 1842; 
after serving this Church as settled pastor for one year, he 
was installed pastor April24th, 1844,and resigned May 19th, 
1849. In 1843 he received the honorable degree of A.. M. 
from Yale College. 

8. David Murdoch, was born in Glasgow, Scotland; grad- 
uated at I'nion College, in 1845 ; Union Theological Sem- 



14 A MEMORIAL DISCOURKK. 

inary, 1848; ordained pastor here September 18th,18o0,and 
remained until September 28th, 1869. He was installed pas- 
tor of the New Haven Third Church, October lst.l869,and 
remained until May 15th, 1874 

9. James B. Bonar graduated at Wabash College, 1853; 
at Union Theological Seminary, New York, 1856; ordain- 
ed by the Third Presbyterian Church, New York, 

^larch 18th, 1857; installed pastor American Presbyterian 
Church, Montreal, Canada, June 6lh, 1857, and left in 1869 
He was installed pastor at New Milford, June 30lh, 1870- 
The Church connected with this Society was organized 
November 21st, 1716, with 8 male and 5 female members. 
During the first pastorate 225 more were added by profes- 
sion and letter. During Mr. Taylor's ministry of 42 years> 
301 names were added to the roll. Mr. Griswold kept a 
full record of Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths during his 
entire ministry. His list of admissions to the Cliurch is- 
only to January 1st, 1797. From that date he seems to 
have invited all persons to the Sacraments. Under his 
ministry only 34 persons united with the Church. At hi; 
ordination Mr. Elliott found only 43 members — showing 
how the Church had been broken up in the 8 3^ears pre- 
ceding. Nine years later, after the Church at Bridgevvater 
had been formed, Mr. Elliott reports a membership of 
118 ; but this was before the revival that moved the town. 
Three hundred and nineteen meml)ers were added to tlie 
Church during Mr. Elliot's ministry — most of them on 
profession of faith. There were added to the Church un- 
der Mr. Rood, 153, ^Ir. Porter, 116, and Mr.Greenwood, 46 
After the retirement of Mr. Greenwood Rev. E. W. An- 
drews was acting pastor for 6 or 8 months, and received 
63 persons to Church fellowship. In the 19 years of Mv. 
Murdocii's ministry there were added to the Church, 243 
persons; and under the present pastorate of 6 years 80 have 
been received. The number of names on tlie Church roll 
up to this date is 1593. In 1861 there was a reported uiem. 
bership of 476 ; but the roll had not been revised and cor- 
rected since 1836. A careful sifting of the list in the Fall 
of 1870, showed a Church membership of 310 at the begin- 
ning of the present pastorate. The actual me.'iibership to- 
day Is 332—27 of tliein over 75 years of age, and one of 
th.mi over 100 years. At the head of the list is Mrs. Polly 
Canficld who united in 1M12. Two persons are snid to have 



A MKM )KfAI, DlSC(JL'ltS::. 15 

died in this town over 100 years of ;i<^e — H:irry Carpenter 
a colored man, and Noali oSTodine, who was born in the 
17th century and died in the 19th. Miss Sally Northrop, 
who celebrated the anniversary of her 100th birthday on 
the 28th of June is still living. 

Durino^ the last century, the Church was sensitive as to 
the character of its Deacons. Instead of electing biethren 
at once to the office, it choose them to serve durinjj the 
Clmrch's pleasure. If acceptable after one or tvvo years 
trial, they were, by vote, " established as Deacons." And 
in 1750 the Church voted that one brotlier, who had thus 
been on trial for two years, " should not be established in 
the office of Diiacon." Twenty-one persons have so far 
served the Church in this office viz : — Samuel Brownson, 
James Prime, JohnBostwick, Job Terrill, Samuel Canfleld, 
Bushnell Bostwick, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Gaylord, 
John Hitchcock, Sherman Boardman, Elizur Warner, 
Joseph Merwin, Dobson W. M'Mahon, John Beecher, 
ITicanor Stilson, Geo. W. Wiiittelsey, Geradus Roberts, 
Seymour B. Green, William Hine, John J. Conklin, and 
Ethiel S. Green. From 1716 to 1803, the Lord's^ Supper 
was administered 4 times a year ; since 1808, every two 
months. 

Nineteen men from this Church have entered the Gos- 
pel ministry, viz : — 

1. David Bostwick, born here January 8th, 1721 ; was 
ordained pastor at Jamaica, L. I., October Oth, 1745, where 
he stayed until 1748. He was installed pastor of the First 
Presbyterian Church, in New York City, in 1750, and died 
in 17(33. His work on Infant Baptism was published here 
and in England, and republished in 1837. 

2. Joseph Treat ; graduated at Princeton College, in 
1757. He was ordained pastor colleague of Rev. Dr. 
Bostwick, First Presbyterian Church, N. Y. City, in 1763, 
where he remained until 1784. 

3. David Brownson; graduated at Yale College, in 1762, 
and was oraainud pastor at Oxford in 1764, staying until 
1779. He died in 1806. 

4. Benjamin Wildman ; graduated at Yale College, in 
1758; was ordained pastor at Southbury, in 1766 and died 
ill 1812. 

0. Whitmon Welch; graduated at Yale College in 1762, 
and died in 1776. 



14 A :MEMORrAL DISCOURSK. 

inary, 1848; ordained pastor here September 18th,18o0,and 
remained until September 28th, 1869. He was installed pas- 
tor of the New Haven Third Church, October 1st, 1869, and 
remained until May loth, 1874. 

9. James B. Bonar graduated at Wabash College, 1853; 
at Union Theological Seminary, New York, 1856; ordain- 
ed by the Third Presbyterian Church, New York, 

March 18th, 1857; installed pastor American Presbyterian 
Church, ]Montreal, Canada, June 6ih, 185 7, and left in 1869 
He was installed pastor at New Milford, June 30th, 1870- 

The Church connected with this Society was organized 
November 21st, 1716, with 8 male and 5 female members. 
During the first pastorate 225 more were added by profes- 
sion and letter. During Mr. Taylor's ministry of 42 years. 
801 names were added to the roll. 3Ir. Griswold kept a 
full record of Baptisms, Marriages, and Deatlis during his 
entire ministry. His list of admissions to the Church is- 
only to January 1st, 1797. From that date he seems to 
have invited all persons to the Sacraments. Under his 
ministry only 34 persons united with the Church. At h'n 
ordination Mr. Elliott found only 43 members — showing 
how the Church had been broken up in the 8 3^ears pre- 
ceding. Nine years later, after the Church at Bridgewater 
had been formed, Mr. Elliott reports a membership of 
118 ; but this was before the revival that moved the town. 
Three hundred and nineteen members were added to the 
Church during Mr. Elliot's ministry — most of them on 
profession of faith. There were added to the Ciiurch un- 
der ]S[r. Rood, 153, ^Ir. Porter, 116. and Mr.Greenwood, 46 
After the retirement of Mr. Greenwood Rev. E. W. An- 
drews was acting pastor for 6 or 8 months, and received 
63 persons to Church fellowship. In tlie 19 years of Mr. 
Murdoch's ministry there were added to the Church, 243 
persons; and under the present pastorate of 6 years 80 have 
been received. The number of names on the Cliurch roll 
up to this date is 1593. In 1861 there was a reported mem. 
bership of 476 ; but the roll had not been revised and cor- 
rected since 1836. A careful sifting of the list in the Fall 
of 1870, showed a Church membership of 310 at the begin- 
ning of the present pastorate. The actual me;;ibership to- 
day is 332 — 27 of them over 75 3'cars of age, and one of 
thvMii over 100 years. At the liead of the list is Mrs. Polly 
Canficld who united in 1812. Two persons are said to have ' 



died in this town over lOQ years of a<^e— H:irr\' Carpi^iiter 
a colored man, and Noali Nodiue, who was born in the 
ITtli century and died in tlie 19th. Miss Sally Northrop, 
who celebrated the anniversary of her 100th birthday on 
the 28tli of June is still living. 

Durini? the last century, the Church was sensitive as to 
the character of its Deacons. Instead of electing brethren 
at once to the office, it choose them to serve during the 
Church's pleasure. If acceptable after one or tvvo years 
trial, they were, by vote, " established as Deacons." And 
in 1750 the Cluirch voted that one brotiier, who had tiius 
been on trial for two years, " should not be established iu 
the office of Djacon." Twenty-one persons have so far 
served the Church in this office viz : — Samuel Brownson, 
James Prime, JohnBostwick, Job Terrill, Samuel CanSeld, 
Bushnell Bostwick, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Gaylord, 
John Hitchcock, Sherman Boardman, Elizur Warner, 
Joseph Merwin, Dobson W. M'Mahon, John Beecher, 
iricanor SLilson, Geo. W. Wiiittelsey, Geradus Roberts, 
Seymour B. Green, William Hine, John J. Conklin, and 
Ethiel S. Green. From 1716 to 1803, the Lord's- Supper 
was administered 4 times a year ; since 1808, every two 
months. 

Nineteen men from this Church have entered the Gos- 
pel ministry, viz : — 

1. David Bostwick, born here January 8th, 1721 ; was 
ordained pastor at Jamaica, L. I., October 9th, 1745, where 
he stayed until 1746. He was installed pastor of the First 
Presbyterian Church, in New York City, in 1756, and died 
in 1763. His work on Infant Baptism was published here 
and in England, and republished in 1837. 

3. Joseph Treat ; graduated at Princeton College, in 
1757. He was ordained pastor colleague of Rev. Dr. 
Bostwick, First Presbyterian Church, N. Y. City, in 1763, 
where he remained until 1784. 

3. David Brovvnson; graduated at Yale College, in 1763, 
and was oraainud pastor at Oxford in 1764, staying until 
1779. He died in 1806. 

4. Benjamin Wildman ; graduated at Yale College, in 
1758 ; was ordained pastor at Southbury, in 1766 and died 
in 1813. 

5. Whitmon Welch; graduated at Yale College in 1762, 
and died in 1776. 



16 A MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 

6. Gideon Bostwick was born here in 1742 ; graduated 
at Yale Collepje in 1762. He was a teacher of the Classical 
School established in Great Barrington, Mass., by Dr. 
Whiting, Col. D wight and olher members of the Episco- 
pal Church, in 1766. Invited to act as Lay reader, he went 
to England and received orders from the Bishop of Lon- 
don, and was Rector at Great Barrington, from 1767 to 
1793. He died here while on a visit to Mrs. Boardman, 
who was Dr. Whiting's daughter. [See Schroeder's Me- 
morial of Mrs. M. A. Boardman.] 

7. David Sandford was born in Miliord, December 11th, 
1737 ; graduated at Yale College in 1755 ; was ordained 
pastor at Med way, Mass., April 14th, 1763, and continued 
there until April 7th, 1810. 

8. John Stevens ; graduated at Yale College, in 1779 ; 
was licensed by Litchfield South Association, 1780, and 
died in 1799. 

9. David Baldwin. 

10. Daniel Marsh was born in 1762 ; graduated at Wil. 
liams College ; was pastor of Bennington, Vt., from 1806 
to 1820 ; died at Janesville, New York, in 1843. 

11. Nathaniel W.Taylor,grandson of the second pastor of 
this Church, was born here, June 13, 1786 ; graduated at 
Yale College, in 1807 ; converted in College ; was ordain- 
ed pastor at New Haven, on the first of April, 1812, and 
retained the position until December 1822. He was then 
Professor in Yale College Theological Seminary, and died 
in 1858. He trained nearly 700 young men for tiie minis- 
try. 

12. Charles A. Boardman ; was pastor at New Preston- 
from June 1818, until March 1830 ; was installed pastor at 
New Haven, on the third of March, 1830, remaining until 
September 1832. He was also installed pastor at West- 
port, February 1833, and stayed until December 1836. He 
died in 1860. 

13. Orlo D. Hine was born liere, October 28, 1815 ; 
graduated at Yale College, in 1837 ; was ordained pastor 
at Clinton, April 14th, 1841, laboring there until Octoi)er 
25th, 1842. He was also acting pastor at Fair Haven, Vt., 
from 1843 to 1845 ; acting pastor at Pontiac, Mich., from 
1846 to 1851 ; installed postor at North Woodstock, Jan- 
uary 6th, 1852, and stayed until November 5th, 1855; and 
was installed pastor at Lebanon the first of Mav 1856, 



A MKMOUrAL DISCOCIISF.. 17 



14. Merrit S. Piatt w^tS born in 1805 ; .i,^r:iduate(l at 
Hamilton College ; was ordained pastor at Madison, K Y. 
Sept"ml)er 1837, remaininir until 1855 ; was acting pastor 
at Hamilton, N. Y., 1855, staying until 1864; was a^so 
acting pa&tor at Glassboro, New Field, Franklin, New 
Jersey, in 1864. He is still living. 

15. Eliezur Beecher, ordained by the Baptists about 
1814 ; was never settled ; preached mainly in this town. 

16. Asahel Bronson was ordained about 1820 or 1825; 
supposed to be dead. 

17. John Treat Baldwin ; graduated at Princeton Col- 
lege ; was ordained about 1820. He is still living. 

18. George Todd ; graduated at Yale College about 
1820 or 1825 ; supposed to be living. 

10. George Sterling w^as ordained pastor at Wayland, 
Mich., December, 1874. 

At least four men in this town have been active in Na- 
tional affairs. The most distinguished was Roger Slier- 
man, a native of Mass., who came here in 174:1 He was 
clerk to this Ecclesiastical Society, from 1753 to 1761, and 
established in tlie office of Deacon i" 1757. Here he 
wrought as a shoemaker, aided his brother in the store, 
and in 1745 was appointed land surve\'or for tlie Count}'. 
Removing to New Haven in 1761, he became judge -^f the 
court of Common Pleas, a member of the upper House in 
tlie Legislature, and jndge of the Superior Court. In 1774 
he was appointed a member of the first Congress, in which 
lie continued until his death, at which time he was in the 
Senate, to which he was electea in 1791. He was a mem- 
ber of the Governor's Council of safety, and Mayor of 
New Haven from 1784 to his death, July 23d, 1793. In 
the Congress of 1776 lie was a member of the Committee 
appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence, as 
well as of many of the other most important Committees, 
and he was also a member of the board of war, and of the 
board of treasury. His services to the Country were in- 
valuable, and few of his contempories left their impress 
more clearly upon American institutions. 

Elijah Boardman, third son of Deacon Sherman Board- 
man, and grandson of the first pastor of this Church, was 
born March, 7, 1760. In 1821 he was elected to the U. S. 
Senate ; he died August 18tli, 1823. Mi. Boardman's ear- 
lier years were in connection with this Societ}^; but hav 



18 A MEMORIAL DISCOURSE, 



ing married a daughter of the aforementioned Dr. Whit- 
ing, a zealous Episcopalian who engaged in a pamphlet 
controversy with Dr. Bilhim3% he afterwards identilied 
himself with the Episcopal Church and died in its com- 
munion. 

Perry Smith, who died in 1852, was elected to the Uni- 
ted States Senate in 1836, and served one term. He 
was connected with the Episcopal Society. 

Orange Merwin, born here July 3, 1776, was in Con 
gress in 1826-7, during the admmi>tration of John Qnin- 
cey Adams. He died September otli, 1854. He was a 
member of this Society. 

The Sabbath School was begun In 1812 or 14 by Rev. 
Mr. Elliott, who for some time was the only teacher. The 
first appropriation of money for its benefit by the Church 
was in 1821. The present membership of the Sabbath 
School is 300. The Infant Class in the Chapel was begun, 
under its present teacher, Miss Isabella Wilson, in 1872, 

Under Mr, Elliott's ministry, prayer meetings became 
common in the town. They were held on Sundays be- 
tween services, in the Town House and in the school 
houses of the outlying districts. In times of religious in- 
terest many week day meetings were held in various 
places. A Saturday evening prayer meeting was held for 
years in the parlors of Mr. and 3Irs. Eli 3Iygatt, when 
ihey lived on the spot now occupied by the residence of 
Mrs. Sanford and afterwards in the Town house. But no 
regular mid-week Church afternoon service was establish- 
ed until during Mr. Rood's pastorate, when the Friday after- 
noon meeting was begun. The Tuesday evening meeting 
was commenced in 1865 or 66. The Mother's Monthly 
Prayer Meeting began in 1869. 

The gifts to the Church, so far, are these : July 14th, 
1815, Deacon Dobson, and \V. ^['Mahon gave the Church 
$100, the interest to be used for relief of poor me:nbers,()r 
for books. February 26th, 1820, Deacon M Mah(Mi gave 
$400 to be used for the same purposes. 

In 1844 Miss Lois Wells gave the Church $200 for ihe 
relief of the poor, sick and destitute femaU? members. 

Mrs. Anna Fline, widow of Stephen, who died in 1851 
or 2 bequeathed $200 to the Church. 

And in January 6th, 1860, Miss Sully Northrop, who 
completed her lObth year a few days ago, gave $200 to 
be added to the Church Fund. 



19 A MEMOIIIAL DISCOURSE. 



The Benevolent Library originated in the gifts of Dea 
con M'Malion Col. Snraiiel Canfield and Philo N. Hea- 
cock, who took great interest in it. No additions hav^; 
been made to it for some years. It consists of about 600 
volumes of standard works, and merits more attention 
than it has lately received. 

It is impossible to form any estimate of the amount of 
money contributed by this Church and Society, to relig- 
ious and benevolent objects. Until after the installation 
of Mr. Porter there was no system or regularity in its 
charities. Collections were taken up as the town was vis- 
ited by agents, or as necessity seemed to require. It is 
thought that contributions have be:3n made regularly to 
the A. B. C. F. M., and the Am. H. M, S., ever since 
these societies were formed. The oldest record of any 
contribution by this Congreg.ition is the receipt of the 
County Treasurer for £1)4 16s. Od. which this Society 
gave "for the suffering and distressed inhabitants of the 
towns of New Haven, Fairfield and Norwalk." This re- 
ceipt is dated September 1779, three months after the 
towns named had b3cn sicked by Mijor General Tryon. 

From 1836 to 1871 the Congregati jn contributed regu- 
larly to the Am. Ed., the Bible, the A. H. M., the Sea- 
men's F. & S. S. Union, the A. B. C. F. M., and the A. 
Tract Societies Since 1871 we have contributed annual- 
ly to the Bible S., CjngregUioa il Union, A. H. M. S., 
Fund for Disabled Ministers and their widows, the A. B. 
C. F. M., and the A. M. Association. 

The Rev. W. H. Moore states that, in the 17 years from 
1859 to 1875, this Congregation contributed $18,876.53. 
Dividing this into two periods, lie finds tliat in the first 
nine years you gave $3,765.93, and in the last eight years 
$11,810.63, a gratifying increase, which, it is hoped we 
shall fully maintain. 

The Ladies' Mite Society was formed in 1817 as a Dor- 
cas Society. For 59 years it has annually contributed 
about $75, divided between A. H. M. S., Seamen's F. and 
A. Ed. Societies. 

The Auxiliary to the Woman's B. of Mi-ssions was form- 
ed in May 1872. " The Golden Links," and "Star Circle" 
a year later. These organizations last year, together,con- 
tributed $389. 

Such, in brief, brethren, is the story of your Church, 



20 A MEMORIAL DISCOURSE. 



Society and town. It is one of .vhicli you need not be 
ashaineci. A careful study of these old records has in- 
crease:! my respect and reverence f^r tiie men of the past. 
Their coura.i^e in facing; difficulties, tlieir heroic endur- 
ance of privation ^thair sturdy indepsndence, their delisht 
in the ordinancj-i of the G.)^pel, their readiness to assist 
eacli other, ana their ,<;enerosity towards those wiio differ 
ed from them in opinion, are worthy not only of warm 
praise, but of careful imitation. 

And yet these men of the past were not all saints and 
patriots. In 177(3 there were some bitter torios here: One 
of these was compelled by a company of riflemen to wahi 
before them from New Milford to Litchfield carrjnng one 
of his own geese the entir.j distance At Litchfield they 
tarred him. made him pluck his own goose, bestowed the 
feathers upon him, and drummed him out of the place, 
after obliging him to kneel down and thank them for their 
leniency. And in 1757 David Ferriss was paid lls.out of the 
Society's treasury,to reimburse him for counterfeit money 
which he had received as Collector. This nest of coun 
terfeitors was not broken up until 1763, when a dozen of 
them were arrested. The old Church books show that 
immorality was not unknown among Church members. 
The pastoral letter which was issued to th'3 Churches by the 
Litchfield Soutli Consociation in 1752, reveals a state of 
tilings in these Churches worse than any known to-day. 
Sixty years ago (1816) there was a distillery in every town 
—169 in Litchfield County,— 26 of them in New Milford. 
To day there are three distilleries in town, and soon it is 
hoped thjse will disappear and the nine places licensed to 
sell liquors. 

There is abundant cause for gratitude. There has been 
progress in every direction. In our beautiful village— 
than whic'i there is not now a lovlier or a healthier in 
New England— with our system of concrete walks, lamns 
and water works.our substantial Town Hall and enlarged 
school privileges— we may here spend life as pleasantly 
and profitably, doing the will of God from the heari— as 
was could anywhere on the face of the globe. With all 
these blessings and privileges there is, of course, an in- 
creased responsibility. It become'* us to conserve and 
iraprove all that the fathers have left us, and hand down 
an unimpaired inheritance to tiie venerations that are to 
follow. 



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